I'm Tired

The past two weeks caught up with me this morning. I finally rolled out of bed around 7:30 a.m., ran a brush through my hair, threw on some clothes and rushed to work. I'm tired.

My left eye really hurts. I'm thinking it's from all the reading the past couple of weeks. Then there is the tinnitus - the constant rushing water sound in my head. Stress and caffeen make it worse. Guess I'm lucky it's not any louder than it is!

So where do I go from here?

Am I supposed to count it all joy?

Am I to keep running the race as if to win?

Do you not know? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

.... I feel better already.

I'm Back

Class is finally over .. unfortunately the work isn't. I still have a research paper to write and a comprehensive final to take. I hope to get it all finished by Wednesday - PRAY!

I really didn't want to take this class but something kept telling me I should. I never know if those promptings are the Holy Spirit or something I ate the night before so I am careful about making big decisions based on "feelings". Still, this one was strong enough that I listened to it and I am glad I did.

Not only did I have the opportunity to learn a lot about evangelism but I met some great people - including the instructor. Wayne clearly has God's hand on his life. He is a gifted preacher and teacher. I hope our paths cross again. That, however, was not the best part of the class.

One assignment was to interview a vocational minister. I had the opportunity to interview a pastor from DeSoto. I think it was a divine appointment for both of us. I came away from that meeting with a renewed spirit for reaching the lost world. He came away with a awareness of some changes his church needed to make - and already have begun!

This class not only changed my life but the life of a church. Pretty amazing for a two week class.

Schedules

I am so busy! Work is really picking up which is great. I have been asked to take on some new responsibilities at my church which I love. I start back to school on Monday and for some reasons registered for two classes this summer! Oh, and did I tell you there is a new man in my life? My days are going to be full!

Do you see the problem here?

Uh huh ... where is time for God in all this?

Gotta keep our priorities straight.

Thinking

I am in a quandary and of course it involves men, but not like you are thinking. These two men are righteous, admittedly at times self-righteous, but on the whole good men. Both are pastors of thriving churches. I call both men my friend.

Here is the thing. One of them has greatly disappointed me. Why? I have looked up to him as a leader of the faith for some time now. Unfortunately, I think he has compromised his ethics to look good in the eyes of man. All I can see that it has done is severely damage his witness for the Lord. I tried to tell him so in private, but he was not ready to listen.

The other one has always struck me as being a bit self-centered. Especially so to be a pastor. Don't get me wrong, he is a great guy and clearly loves the Lord - but I was never too sure about him until this week. This man had a rough couple of days and was disappointed in some colleagues. He told me as much. The next day he came to me and apologized for complaining! I really had not given much thought to his comments, but his apology moved me.

Two men of God with two very different witnesses. Which do you think most pleased the Lord? The one saying the right words to make things go smoothly even if it is contrary to what is right or the one who said the truth but where it did no one any good and came back to apologize for it?

If both these men share their faith with me in the future I can tell you which one I am more apt to follow.

For me it is a strong reminder that it isn't the big things that determine how we serve the kingdom but rather the small daily decisions of how we live our life that make the most dramatic impact.

Be careful what you say.